Devils owners to pay hourly employees after hockey season paused due to coronavirus concerns

Devils had seven home games left, Prudential Center postponing all March events

By Ryan Morik | Mar 14 | 11:08AM

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New Jersey Devils (Ed Mulholland)

With the NHL season paused due to cornavirus concerns, Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer announced that he would continue to pay hourly employees of the Prudential Center.

"We are incredibly grateful for the community of people that come together each game and event night to make the Prudential Center an unbelievably special place for our fans," Harris said. "We realize the suspension of our Devils games and concerts has created an unintended hardship for the men and women who provide for their families and believe our commitment to them in this unprecedented time is imperative."

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NHL pauses season due to coronavirus, with hope to resume when 'appropriate and prudent'

The NBA suspended their season on Wednesday night

By Garrett Stepien & Danny Abriano | Mar 12 | 1:36PM

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A general view during the national anthem prior to the start of the game between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. (Andy Marlin)

After the NBA's decision Wednesday night to suspend the season due to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, the NHL followed suit Thursday afternoon.

The NHL announced before Thursday's games that it would be pausing the season with the hope of resuming games when "appropriate and prudent."

Pick could become a fourth rounder if Sabres make playoffs

By Coby Green | Feb 24 | 12:04PM

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(Jerome Miron)

The Devils have traded RW Wayne Simmonds to the Buffalo Sabres, per multiple reports.

In return, the Devils will receive a conditional fifth round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, which can potentially become a fourth rounder if the Sabres makes the playoffs and Simmonds plays 10 games. The Sabres are currently eight points out of the second wild card spot in the eastern conference.

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Devils will retain half of Simmond's $5 salary/cap hit, and there currently is no extension in place between Simmond -- an unrestricted free agent this year -- and the Sabres, but one could be in play depending on how he plays in Buffalo.

For the second time in as many months, Ilya Kovalchuk is on the move. The former Devils left wing from 2010-13, who left the NHL entirely in July 2013, was traded Sunday evening by the Montreal Canadiens to the Washington Capitals for a 2020 third-round draft pick.

Kovalchuk started the 2019-20 season with the Los Angeles Kings, the team he signed a three-year, $18.75-million contract with in June 2018, before his Dec. 17 release. The 6-foot-3, 222-pounder signed a one-year, two-year league minimum contract Jan. 3 with the Canadiens.

Through 39 games, Kovalchuk has 22 points on nine goals and 13 assists. He split his production between the Kings and Canadiens, netting nine points with Los Angeles before adding 13 in Montreal, and the Capitals believe the veteran has more left to give.

After being held out of Friday night's game in Colorado, Taylor Hall is once again out of the lineup as the Devils prepare to take on the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, according to NHL reporter John Shannon.

Hall skated in warmups on Friday, but was a healthy scratch for what the Devils termed as "precautionary reasons."

Rumors have swirled over the past week that New Jersey was shopping the 28-year-old, and those rumors intensified after he was taken out of the lineup against the Avalanche.

Devils fire John Hynes, Alain Nasreddine to take over as interim head coach

150-159-18 record in four-plus years in New Jersey

By Coby Green | Dec 3, 2019 | 4:38PM

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Oct 14, 2019; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes on the bench during the third period of their game against the Florida Panthers at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports (Ed Mulholland)

The Devils announced Tuesday afternoon that they have relieved John Hynes of his head coaching duties and will elevate Alain Nasreddine to interim head coach.

Hynes had been the head coach of the Devils since 2015 and held a 150-159-18 record during his four-plus seasons with the team.

This season, the Devils have gone 9-13-4 with 22 and sit at the bottom of the eastern conference. Despite having the No. 1 pick in 2017 and 2019--which turned into Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes-- and the additions of Taylor Hall and P.K. Subban, the Devils haven't progressed much since Hynes took the reins.

18-year-old was first overall pick in 2019 Draft

Oct 19, 2019 | 2:13PM

With the Devils on the power-play, Taylor Hall skated along the left wing half-board, before picking out Hughes with a beautiful cross-ice pass. Hughes made no mistake and rifled it past Thatcher Demko for the goal.

The Devils locked up a key piece of both their present and their future on Friday, signing center Nico Hischier to a seven-year contract extension, worth an average annual value of $7.25 million. The contract is set to begin in the 2020-2021 season.

Hischier, 20, was the first overall pick in the 2017 draft and scored 99 points (37 goals, 62 assists) in his first two NHL seasons. In six games this season, the Swiss native has collected a pair of assists.

The move futher solidifies the core of the Devils, who added star defenseman P.K. Subban in the offseason a day after drafting Jack Hughes No. 1 overall. They came into the season as one of the more talked about teams in the league, but began the season 0-4-2 before collecting their first win of the season over the Rangers on Thursday.

Devils' Jack Hughes records first career NHL point in first head-to-head matchup with Rangers' Kaapo Kakko

Thursday was the first matchup of the top two picks

By Alex Smith | Oct 17, 2019 | 9:32PM

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(Ed Mulholland)

Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko went head-to-head on Thursday night for the first time since the duo was selected first and second, respectively, in this year's NHL Draft.

With the Devils already up 2-1 in the second period, Hughes recorded his first NHL point. with under eight minutes to play in the period, Matt Tennyson wristed a shot from the point. The shot deflected off of Hughes' stick, then bounced off Miles Wood's backside and into net past Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev.

Wood was credited with the goal, but Hughes picked up his first career NHL point on the play.

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Examining the big moves the Devils, Islanders, and Rangers made this offseason

The local teams could be three of the most interesting in the Eastern Conference this season

By Phil Akre | Jul 30, 2019 | 1:00PM

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(Anne-Marie Sorvin)

Disappointing seasons from the Rangers and Devils prompted impressive offseason work from both organizations. It certainly helped that both teams had the top two picks in the NHL Draft -- selections that netted potentially franchise-altering talents in Kappo Kakko and Jack Hughes, respectively.

While they didn't have a high draft pick or significant free agent signing, the Islanders made a handful of moves, mainly in the form of re-signings. For the most part, their roster enters 2019-20 relatively unchanged.

Taking all of this into consideration, here's a closer look at the biggest moves each organization made...

WATCH: Jack Hughes dons his Devils jersey for the first time

The No. 1 overall talks about what he's looking to get out of developmental camp

Jul 9, 2019 | 5:42PM

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Jack Hughes, the Devils first overall draft pick, donned the red and white jersey for the first time on Tuesday when he took the ice for the start of the team's developmental camp.

"Yeah, it was good to get out here. Good little skate to get our feet under us. It was good to get out there with the jersey for the first time."

While Hughes admitted the hype has gone down and he's had time to relax by the pool, he's ready to start soaking in all the information his new coaches will be throwing at him as he gets acclimated to his new team.

The 18-year-old dishes on reaching his dream and what lies ahead

Jun 25, 2019 | 3:17PM

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Jack Hughes, the New Jersey Devils' first-round pick and first overall pick of the NHL Draft, was officially introduced as a Devil on Tuesday at the Prudential Center in Newark where he unveiled he will be wearing No. 86.

The 18-year-old joined SNY's Dan Graca for a few minutes to discuss what it was like being the No. 1 pick and what lies ahead for his NHL career, plus much more.

"It's been a whirlwind," he said. "I'm really excited to be a Devil."

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Newest Devil P.K. Subban optimistic in Jack Hughes, New Jersey

Devils acquire Subban in trade with Preds

Jun 23, 2019 | 10:11PM

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Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban celebrates after a Predators goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)

P.K. Subban is optimistic in his new team and what No. 1 pick Jack Hughes brings to the Devils.

A day after New Jersey acquired Subban in a trade with the Nashville Predators, Subban said he is looking forward to joining a team with playoff potential.

"My main objective is to come in and be a good mentor for the young guys, but I'm coming to win," Subban told the New York Post's Mollie Walker. "I'm not coming for participation, I want a Stanley Cup ring and I want to do that in New Jersey."

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Devils acquire P.K. Subban in trade with Nashville Predators

NJ gave up two players and two picks in the deal

Jun 22, 2019 | 12:56PM

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Apr 22, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) in action during the game between the Stars and the Predators in game six of the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports (Jerome Miron)

The Devils continue to load up on talent.

One day after selecting Jack Hughes first overall in the NHL Draft, the Devils acquired defenseman P.K. Subban in a trade with the Nasvhille Predators, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

Get to know Devils NHL Draft pick C Jack Hughes

Devils select Hughes first overall

By Phil Akre | Jun 21, 2019 | 8:13PM

The Devils selected center Jack Hughes with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.

He'll likely become the first-ever player to make the jump straight from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program to the NHL.

Here are six facts to know about the 18-year-old Hughes.

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Devils or Rangers? NHL Draft prospect Jack Hughes wants to go No. 1

Hughes and Kaapo Kakko will likely be the top two picks in the draft

May 31, 2019 | 8:42PM

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Jun 22, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the draft floor and stage before the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports (Jerome Miron)

It wouldn't have mattered which team had the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft. Jack Hughes just wants to be the first player taken.

"You always dream of being No. 1," Hughes told reporters Friday at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. "You don't dream of being two, three or four when you're a young kid."

But the 18-year-old American center isn't about to ruffle any feathers. Asked whether he'd look better in red or blue, with the Devils and Rangers holding the top two picks in the NHL Draft, Hughes said, "I think I'd look good in either."

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NHL Draft could be spark Devils-Rangers rivalry needs

Devils own the No. 1 pick with the Rangers holding the No. 2 pick

May 30, 2019 | 9:27PM

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(Noah K. Murray)

It was a rough season for the NHL's Hudson River Rivalry.

The Devils took a huge step back after making the playoffs in 2017-18, their 72 points the third-fewest in the league, while the Rangers were only six points better as they embarked on their first full season of their rebuild.

But next month's NHL Draft represents an opportunity for both teams to add a potential game-changing prospect, as the Devils hold the No. 1 pick with the Rangers picking right after at No. 2. American center Jack Hughes and Finnish wing Kaapo Kakko should be the top-two picks in some order, with Hughes long pegged as the top prospect in this draft class.

How many players in the Stanley Cup Final have New York connections?

Several familiar faces have a chance to win the Cup this year

By Tom Krosnowski | May 27, 2019 | 10:00AM

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(Geoff Burke)

Although no New York-area teams made it to the Stanley Cup Final this year, the Empire State will still have a large impact on hockey's grandest stage. Twelve players from the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues have connections with the New York metro area in some way, so local fans still have plenty of reasons to tune in.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have one of the largest collections of American-born hockey players of any team in the NHL. Not surprisingly, several of them have called New York home for at least part of their careers.

Jack Hughes and Kakko are the top two players in the 2019 draft class

May 17, 2019 | 8:09PM

Time will tell whether the Devils thinking highly enough of Kaapo Kakko to take him over long-presumed No. 1 NHL Draft pick Jack Hughes, but Kakko's emergence over the last year has at least made it a debate.

And Kakko thinks it can happen, especially as he dominates in the IIHF World Championship.

"This is a big thing for me for the draft," Kakko told NHL.com through a translator. "I think I can be the first (pick)."

The two teams both had tweets in reference to Kakko's goal on Friday

May 10, 2019 | 11:06AM

It appears as if there could be a good ol' New York vs. New Jersey battle for Finnish hockey phenom Kaapo Kakko.

Many expect the 18-year-old forward to go second overall to the Rangers, but perhaps it is too early to count out the Devils just yet.

Kakko scored an impressive goal at the IIHF Worlds on Friday, grabbing the puck on a breakaway while a defender attempted to trip him from behind. Kakko escaped free of the defender's stick while also deking out the goalie to sneak the puck past him.

When the clip of the goal surfaced on Twitter, the Rangers tweeted out the eyeball emoji while the Devils tweeted out a double eyes emoji along with a gif of the goal five minutes later.

The Devils drew the No. 1 pick in the June draft during last week's NHL Draft Lottery, while the Rangers came away with the No. 2 pick. Hughes has long been considered the consensus No. 1 selection, but there's been recent talk of Kakko at least closing the gap on Hughes as far as who the top prospect is in this year's draft class after a strong season in the Finnish Liiga.

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Game of Thrones predictions and Season 8 theories from NY athletes

Who will wind up on the Iron Throne?

Apr 14, 2019 | 11:00AM

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Winter is here.

With Game of Thrones set to return Sunday for its eighth and final season, New York athletes gave their predictions and talked about theories for how the saga will end.

Click below...

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Devils awarded No. 1 pick in 2019 NHL Draft

This is New Jersey's second first overall pick in the last three years

Apr 9, 2019 | 9:42PM

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(David Banks)

The 2019 NHL Draft lottery took place on Tuesday night, and it was the New Jersey Devils' card that flipped to lock in the No. 1 pick.

This is the second time in the last three years the Devils were awarded the top pick, as they landed it in 2017 as well. They spent it on Nico Hischier, who has collected 99 points over two years thus far.

After hearing the announcement, Devils GM Ray Shero couldn't be happier as he said "we need talent." That statement comes after a dismal Devils season where they finished last in the Eastern Conference with a 31-41-10 record.

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Devils score two late goals, top Rangers 4-2

Devils snap two-game losing skid

Apr 1, 2019 | 9:51PM

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New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei and New Jersey Devils right wing Drew Stafford battle for the puck during the first period at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)

The Devils snapped their two-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers on Monday at Prudential Center. >> Box score

Devils host Rangers in Newark at 7 p.m. as rivals play out string

First time both teams have missed playoffs in same season since Devils' 1982-83 relocation

Apr 1, 2019 | 5:22PM

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Mar 9, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) plays the puck in front of New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider (35) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)

This spring marks the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest non-Stanley Cup Finals playoff series in history -- the New York Rangers' epic seven-game Eastern Conference finals win over the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers, on their way to their first championship since 1940 that season, trailed three games to two before winning Game 6 when Mark Messier backed up his victory guarantee with a natural third-period hat trick and winning Game 7 on Stephane Matteau's goal in the second overtime.

The tri-state rivals will not commemorate the anniversary with a similarly high-stakes meeting this spring. Instead, the Rangers and Devils will each be looking to take solace in playing out the string in inspired fashion Monday night, when they complete their season series as New Jersey hosts New York in Newark.

The injury-riddled Devils lost their third straight game Thursday night, falling 5-1 to the Bruins in Newark. New Jersey has lost 10 of its last 12 games. Cory Schneider stopped 22 of 26 shot. >> Box score

The Devils erased a two-goal deficit to come back and defeat the Canucks in a shootout, 3-2, Friday night in Vancouver. The injury-riddled Devils have won consecutive games for the first time in a month. Damon Severson ended the game in the seventh round of the shootout. MacKenzie Blackwood made 25 saves. >> Box score

Devils start hot, but go ice cold late in 4-2 loss to Rangers

New Jersey allowed four unanswered goals to close the game

Mar 9, 2019 | 10:24PM

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Mar 9, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Jesper Fast (17) defends as a puck shot by New York defenseman Libor Hajek (not pictured) gets by New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider (35) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2.
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)

The Devils scored the first two goals of the game, but that's all they could muster in a 4-2 loss to the Rangers at the Garden on Saturday night. >> Box score

Devils blanked by Capitals in 3-0 loss

Fifth straight loss for New Jersey

Mar 8, 2019 | 9:39PM

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(Geoff Burke)

The Devils' struggles continued Friday night as they were shut out by the Capitals in D.C., 3-0. New Jersey has lost five straight and has scored just one goal in its last three games. MacKenzie Blackwood made 33 saves. >> Box Score

BOSTON (AP) Brad Marchand scored a power-play goal early in the opening period and Tuukka Rask made it stand up with 20 saves for his third shutout of the season, lifting the surging Boston Bruins to a 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.

The victory improved the Bruins' streak of at least one point in every game to 16 straight (12-0-4) and they haven't lost in regulation since a 3-2 setback to the New York Rangers on Jan. 19. It's their longest since 18 games (14-0-4) last season.